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Please suggest a good family friendly restaurant in Madikeri to enjoy local cuisine (non-veg). Also please suggest market/ or shop to buy handicrafts & souvenirs.

Try Raintree which is bang in the center of the town. We went there last year after few BHPians recommended it. It was quite good and I found the rates to be pretty reasonable (some reviews on google do say it's expensive. Don't know whether they have hiked the rates). Do give it a try.

Hi,


Planning a trip to Coorg this week, any idea if waterfalls are running? And which all will have water? I heard chelavara falls run dry, any one experience recently?


Regards
SE

Hi Guys,

Planning for a short vacation in mid of July to coorg. Had a few queries, any suggestions would be much appreciated.

1. Are 3 days 4 nights enough to enjoy the real coorg? I am not one of those who wants to "Tick" all the locations, rather I would like to enjoy & soak in what ever is special about coorg.
2. I will be flying from Pune to Banglore. What should be my mode of transport from Banglore? Zoom Car or Public transports? I would prefer a zoom car however I do not know the language & don't want to get into uncomfortable situations because of it.
3. Stay recommendations, not looking for something very expensive. Clean, decent & safe stay is what I am looking for.
4. Is July a good season to visit Coorg? Are the rains too much to even roam around?

Thanks,

1. Are 3 days 4 nights enough to enjoy the real coorg? I am not one of those who wants to "Tick" all the locations, rather I would like to enjoy & soak in what ever is special about coorg.
I think 3 days and 4 nights are enough to cover most of the destinations unless you plan on trekking any peaks like tadiyandamol. Just to mention coorg is a district so there are quite a few places spread over the district. You can also choose some resort for staying for 2 days amidst the coffee plantations. Some resorts have private waterfalls, plantation walks etc.

2. I will be flying from Pune to Banglore. What should be my mode of transport from Banglore? Zoom Car or Public transports? I would prefer a zoom car however I do not know the language & don't want to get into uncomfortable situations because of it.

Zoom car is a good option. As far as I know, language will not be a problem.

3. Stay recommendations, not looking for something very expensive. Clean, decent & safe stay is what I am looking for.
there are so many home stays in coorg. You can checkout airbnb. There are quite a few number of hotels as well. homestays can sometimes be far from the road etc. so check and plan.

4. Is July a good season to visit Coorg? Are the rains too much to even roam around?

Well this is my question as well as we have a trip in July. But I havent decided either way yet. Coorg would be lovely in monsoons as I visited it previously during monsoon. you will find lush greenery in monsoon but be prepared for rains. Last year coorg had a devastating experience. This year too I have seen newspaper announcement to avoid certain parts of coorg as there is again such a chance.

1. 3-4 days are more than enough. But like you said, if ticking off places on a list is not your thing, then I would suggest you stay near Virajpet or Kushalnagar and travel to places. Madikeri I feel is a bit too commercialised for my taste. You could soak in the nature at these places. Spend some time going to tadiyandamol or mandelpatti, or spend an after at Dubare Elephant camp. Also, do go to Irrupu falls on the last day. That way you can head back through Nagarhole National Park. It's also an experience in itself.

2. Hire a car from Bangalore because you'll need one to travel within Coorg. It's not a small place you know. Great places are scattered all over the district. Language will not be an issue. I don't speak a word of Kannada, but never had any issues in my multiple trips to Coorg.

3. Check with Zoomcar. They sometimes have an offer with Club Mahindra. Otherwise it'll be expensive.
Check out Kabbe Holidays - not too expensive, but it's a homestay on a hill. There are a lot of treks around it. Also check if Coorg Adventure Club is open. It's a dorm in Virajpet next to a golf club. Ask for Sunil if it's still operational.

4. Carry some salt, vinegar and mosquito repellent. First two will be needed before any trek that you go on. The place is filled with leeches. Those suckers (literally) are nasty creatures.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip. Just check the weather forecast beforehand.

I'm planning a 5 day trip in the week of 28-Oct. Had a few questions:

1. Are the roads in good condition now? I'll be traveling in a Corolla Altis. Will it be able to deal with the roads in Coorg or should I get a SUV or C-SUV via Zoomcar? It'll be my 2.5 year old son, my wife traveling with me.
2. Which route should I take? Via Mangalore highway or via Mysore -> Hunsur ? I prefer scenic routes with easy driving conditions.
3. I'm planning a 5 day trip - first 2 days visiting Mandalpetti and Talacauvery, then Dubare elephant camp, Iruppu falls on 3rd day, spend a day in a coffee plantation on 4th day, and then drive through Nagarhole national park on the 5th day. Is Mandalpetti worth it with a toddler, or should I skip it or replace it with something else?
4. Any recommendations for a coffee plantation stay(will have my 2.5 year old son) which has good walks, treks or small waterfalls?
5. I've read about a bus safari at Nagarhole. Is it very crowded and difficult to get onto at this time of the year? Or am I allowed to go in my car itself? Will it have good chances of sighting elephants, tigers etc?

@skarthikeyan are you still on with the trip to Coorg ? I hope others with better local knowledge would pitch-in, but while I'd imagine Coorg to be absolute paradise during this seasons (green, becoming even greener), but based on your exact location and where-all you are going, you might need to check road-conditions, see if there are any land-sides etc. I've never been to Coorg during rainy season, but during the dry season when it happened to rain (it was marvellous). This is almost 10-11 years back, so I can share no relevant information that may give any idea of current status. Back then the road from Mysore to Madikeri was under construction/widening, and it was a long and painful drive.

Shouldn't be a problem as long as you dont go off roading in it :D

Can do Mysore - Hunsur if your destination is Madikeri OR
CR Patna - HNPura - Arkalgud - Somwarpete if you like twisties OR
CR Patna - HNPura - Arkalgud - Ramanathapura - Kushalnagar - Madikeri
AFAIK, roads are decent and any car should be able to travel.

Nagarhole for the safari? long weekends/holiday week hence getting safari tickets can be a hassle.

Hello, Planning to visit Mallalli falls on the way to Madikeri from Bangalore. Following is the route as per google from Arakalgud.

1. Any feedback on this route?
2. Is it safe with family (small kids)?
3. Planning to start early morning to reach around noon. What are the options for food before or after visiting the falls?

I would suggest you dont take this route and opt for the somwarpete route. More details here. If you want to have lunch just after visiting the falls, you could talk to folks at Chiguru Homestay in advance and they should be able to help. Else there is no other restaurant as such around Mallalli. The other option would be to pack some snacks and then have lunch once you get to madikeri.

Thanks @bdutta and @procrj. I took the Bengaluru -> NH75 till Channarayapatna -> then SH to Holenarasipur -> Arakalagud -> Kushalnagar -> Suntikoppa -> Brindhavan Estate Homestay.

The roads were great for the most part with some pot holes ridden stretches here and there. Overall, I'd say it was a great drive. It took about 6.5 hours from Bangalore to Brindhavan estate and another 6.5 hours back. I stopped only for a breakfast or lunch break once for each way.

It rained every night and Brindhavan was located in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal and good natural ambience. The rooms could have been better, but it was still a good place and the price was decent.

The food was literally home made by the care taker(One Mr.Sidhu) and his mom. Both were very courteous and hospitable. That made up for any lack of amenities.

Our itinerary was as follows:

Day 1(28-Oct) - Drive from Bengaluru to Brindhavan home stay. Was a pleasant, smooth drive. Google maps was lost in the middle and directed us into some of the estate tractor roads used for tilling. I stopped at the entrance of one such road but the road was slushy enough that it needed a couple of estate workers to help put more dry soil for the vehicle to reverse and take a different path. Post that, stopped relying on GMaps inside the Suntikoppa area. Should have realised ahead of time stupid: We started at 9AM and reached at about 4PM. Took a walk around the estate and had an early dinner and hit the bed.

Day 2 - Went to Dubare elephant camp. Food was delayed at the homestay and hence we reached the camp at 10:30 and there was a long queue. When we reached the boat boarding point, we were 4 people from the head of the queue when they stopped the morning visits and asked to come back at 3PM. Went to a nearby water reservoir for a leisurely trip, walk, then had lunch and then took the first boat at 3PM. The elephants were fun for my son. There was one baby elephant which played with its mother and it was endearing. However, the elephants lacked the vigour, perhaps that's what captivity does to one's soul.

Day 3 - Went to Tala Kaveri and Abbey falls. The weather was warm and sun shone bright, so there was no misty ambience in Tala Kaveri like it was in my previous visit in 2016. But my son loved the terrain and the climb up the steps to the peak. On the way back, also visited Raja's seat.

Day 4: Took a walk around the Brindhavan coffee estate and then took a 90km drive to the south of Coorg to Iruppu falls. It was raining and misty. My son and I took a dip in the falls and the water was freezing, but it was reinvigorating. Magically, the slight cold and throat infection my son and I had till then just vanished.

Day 5: Had breakfast and took a leisurely drive back to Bengaluru at 10AM. Stopped at a highway restaurant to have lunch. Reached home by 5PMish. The caretaker packed some oranges and other citrus fruits from the plantation itself and didn't accept any money for it.

Overall, it was a fun and relaxing trip and the weather was perfect. Traffic was alright as well and going from Bengaluru's bumper-to-bumper, this was a breeze literally :)

I am planning a trip to Coog/ Madikeri with 2day stay there 20&21 March. It is family of 4 with 2 adult children.
Looking for a decent home stay in a estate environment. 3-4J per night (for the whole family) is okay. Local Cuisine served there would be good.

Many of recommendations in this thread and very old. Looking for fresh recommendations from team.

Coorg is a district, hence would divide it into North, Central and South Coorg for ease.

North Coorg - Somwarpete area, which is closer to Sakleshpura.

Places of Interest (which I have visited OR have on my to do list)
Mallalli Falls - https://goo.gl/maps/E31L9yFFiBRGvcX48
Pushpagairi & Kumara Parvatha - https://goo.gl/maps/QPBXmPyWwiWrSQcv6
Kote Betta - https://goo.gl/maps/tJFhaZiGPk2exWn58
Mandalpatti - https://goo.gl/maps/8ramKk3rxw1xMKVd7

Homestays/Resorts (which I have visited OR have on my to do list)
Chiguru - https://goo.gl/maps/qCWsoZhR2kL58LsBA
Ayatana - https://g.page/welcomheritage-ayatana-coorg?share
Bel Home - https://goo.gl/maps/wpJtj1dp6LAcJMVTA


Central Coorg - Madikeri Area. There is enough and more information on Places of Interest on the web, hence going to give it a skip.

Homestays/Resorts (which I have visited OR have on my to do list)
Niruttara - https://goo.gl/maps/42LrVdMAEt5EPBRu6
Club Mahindra, Madikeri - https://goo.gl/maps/TCTGovEF7WAMGjRK6
Club Mahindra, Madikeri - https://goo.gl/maps/d3yHb1oqT7QsRa9B8
Hidden Valley - https://g.page/junglecottage?share
JLR Dubbare - https://goo.gl/maps/YtCkzLJ68pQUUveD9
Evolve Back - https://goo.gl/maps/HfonMpc1Ktq3FWSr7
Elephant Corridor - https://goo.gl/maps/d215UjR568xVFh6cA
Coorg Cliffs - https://g.page/Coorg-Cliffs-Resort?share
Porcupine Estate - https://g.page/porcupine-castle-resort-coorg?share
Riverside Estate - https://g.page/riverside-coffee-estates?share

South Coorg - Kutta area, closer to Kerala border

Places of Interest (which I have visited OR have on my to do list)
Iruppu Falls - https://goo.gl/maps/crjqWXDhzvRwosGL9
Nagarhole National Park - https://goo.gl/maps/tM1nWLrZGZEJzRqg6
Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary - https://goo.gl/maps/3CsN5FJpPUFVzQ7i8
Bramhagiri Peak - https://goo.gl/maps/fNFLiyCdiCXFsw7V7

Homestays/Resorts (which I have visited OR have on my to do list)
Jade Homestay - https://goo.gl/maps/k1jN51D8SZiuM48V8
Pepper Trails - https://goo.gl/maps/KFzQnWhYj1ZPSJpKA
Bison Manor - https://g.page/homestay-near-nagarhole?share
Gateway Stay - https://g.page/gateway-stay?share
Little flower estate - https://goo.gl/maps/ypcZpEeEiWYcwDux8

Would suggest you refer to this other Coorg thread as well for latest updates and details.

IMO, expecting 4K per night for a family of 4 in a homestay is a little unrealistic. Most homestays charge ~2K per adult per night inclusive of 3 meals + activities. If your kids are between 5-12 yrs, expect to pay about 1K to 1.25K per head per night.

Thanks for the detailed information.
In this trip I will be I will be going to Central Coog, traveling through Bangalore, Mysore, Byluguppe and Madikeri.
The to- see and to-stay information on other parts of Coorg, will be useful for future trips.
Thanks again.